Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Celestial Response Hall (Extra Chapter for Monthly Votes, First Release)
Thunder is the pivot of heaven and earth. The heavenly pivot and the earthly mechanism, the yang thunder and the yin thunder, the pivot is yin and the mechanism is yang. Thunder gives birth to the killing power of lightning, thunder is benevolent, lightning is fierce. It is said that all things have their ultimate talisman; the ultimate talisman is hidden in the depths of yin, and its duty is the cycle of birth and destruction.
The Pivot Mountain stands in the Lotus Paradise at the thunderous location. Thunderclouds linger on the mountain all year round, the rumble never ceases. Only one kind of tree grows here—the ginkgo, bearing fruits that resemble thunder pearls.
Cheng Xinzhan rode a cloud to the ferry outside Pivot Mountain, called the Silver Bridge Crossing.
Upon landing, the white dragon trembled, its tail drooping; the place’s aura was overwhelming to it.
Spotting a passerby, Cheng Xinzhan hurried forward and asked, “Greetings, fellow Daoist. I am a disciple of Mingzhi Mountain, bearing a letter from the Mountain Lord to pay respects to Mountain Lord Zhao. Would you kindly direct me where I should go?”
The person looked at Cheng Xinzhan, returned the greeting, and replied, “Greetings to you too. I hadn’t heard that Lord Wen accepted disciples, only that there’s a gifted registered disciple. Could it be you?”
Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded. “Indeed, it is I. My mortal name is Cheng Yunqi. Some days ago, I was fortunate enough to open my Heart Palace and formally became a disciple, taking the Dao name Xinzhan. Please show me the way.”
The person apologized for his ignorance. “The Mountain Lord is in the Divine Firmament Jade Pure Hall of the Nine Heavens Celestial Palace. He hasn’t been in seclusion lately; you should be able to meet him.”
He pointed out the direction. Cheng Xinzhan thanked him and departed.
After he left, the man shook his head, muttering to himself, “That was fast! Wasn’t it just reported he entered the Southern Dipper list on mere breaths of qi? How has he opened his palace already? It’s only been two years at most.”
Cheng Xinzhan wandered about, asking directions, until at last he arrived at the Nine Heavens Celestial Palace.
Though called a palace, it was in truth a colossal tower built upon a nine-tiered platform. The platform was lacquered silver, each tier nine zhang high. The tower itself was purple, also nine tiers, each six zhang high, over a hundred zhang wide—its top nearly invisible.
At the very center of the highest tier hung a massive vertical plaque, inscribed in thunder script, iron strokes, and silver hooks: “Nine Heavens Celestial Palace.”
Its aura far surpassed the Bamboo Hideaway Stele of Zhan Biyun.
On the southern face of the platform were nine gigantic gates. As Cheng Xinzhan drew near, the white dog lay flat, refusing to advance.
Cheng Xinzhan smiled wryly, noticing nearby a beast pen. He approached and saw a sign: “Beast Parking Pen.” Inside, many spirit pets and monsters were stowed, most trembling on the ground. Some, however, strutted with pride—the thunder sparrow of He Bingkun among them, glancing about without the least discomfort.
He silently praised the thoughtful arrangement, and placed the limp white dog in an empty spot.
The dog whimpered, but truly dared not follow its master inside.
Cheng Xinzhan patted its head, found the nearest gate, and entered.
Inside the gateway stood a guardian, a Daoist of about forty, pale and slender, but with thick eyebrows and a tuft of long beard beneath his chin.
Hearing Cheng Xinzhan sought the Mountain Lord and bore a letter from Mingzhi Mountain's Lord, the guardian offered to personally lead him.
Cheng Xinzhan did not know the realm of this gatekeeper, but seeing him leap as thunderlight across nine tiers of platform and tower, he guessed he was no ordinary man.
On the ninth level of the tower, few people lingered, but each exuded unfathomable cultivation.
“Mountain Lord, a disciple of Mingzhi Mountain arrives with a letter from Lord Wen,” the gatekeeper announced, leading Cheng Xinzhan to a door. Above it, a plaque read: “Divine Firmament Jade Pure Hall.”
This style of building a hall within a tower was new to Cheng Xinzhan. Earlier, he’d seen courts and bureaus, all housed in this immense tower, as though a whole palace complex had been erected vertically.
At the entrance stood a wooden sign. Facing outward, it read: “Affairs, registration allowed.” Peeking behind, he saw: “Seclusion, refer to Jade Pivot Bureau.”
“Enter,” came a resonant male voice from within.
The guide led Cheng Xinzhan inside.
The interior of the Divine Firmament Jade Pure Hall defied expectations—not lavish or grand, but strikingly austere, like a vast, empty study.
At the rear, a shrine to the Thunder Ancestor was enshrined. In the center stood a desk, and behind it, a robust, imposing man bent over his writing.
The guide led Cheng Xinzhan forward, repeating, “Mountain Lord, the disciple of Mingzhi Mountain pays his respects.”
The man raised his head. In that instant, Cheng Xinzhan felt the man’s gaze transform into tangible lightning, piercing him through and through, seeing all within and without.
Yet, when he looked again, the man’s eyes were warm and ordinary. His broad forehead and tiger eyes were dignified, but his face bore a gentle smile.
Cheng Xinzhan stepped forward, saluted, and spoke, “Your humble Daoist Xinzhan greets Mountain Lord Zhao. Boundless longevity, Daoist.”
The man nodded. “Greetings, young friend. Boundless vision. What brings you to Pivot Mountain?”
Cheng Xinzhan produced the bamboo slip from Wen Suokong, handing it over. The slip was rolled, signifying his master wished him not to read it. He complied, saying, “My master’s request is on this slip. Please, Mountain Lord Zhao, take a look.”
The man accepted it, unrolled it, his gaze shifting subtly as he glanced at Cheng Xinzhan, though his expression remained steady.
After a moment’s thought, the man took up a brush and wrote a sentence in gold ink on a purple note, handing it to Cheng Xinzhan. He glanced at the note, which read:
“Request to the North Pole Bureau, Exorcist Office, for Daoist Miaojian to select a worthy teacher for young friend Xinzhan, instructing him in the art of divine thunder. Results should show within two years, sufficient to dispel mist and cleanse miasma.—Zhao Wuji”
“Young friend, I have understood Lord Wen’s intent. In the coming years, you will cultivate in the Celestial Palace, as if you were in Mingzhi Mountain. If you need anything, seek Daoist Miaojian first; if he cannot help, then come to me.”
After handing over the note, he addressed the gatekeeper, “Jianxian, just right. Xinzhan is new to the Celestial Palace and likely unfamiliar. Please take him to the Exorcist Office to meet Miaojian. He’ll know what to do when he sees the note.”
Jianxian Daoist acknowledged, and Cheng Xinzhan bowed his thanks.
The man named Wuji smiled at Cheng Xinzhan, then returned to his documents.
Jianxian led Cheng Xinzhan out of the hall, closing the door, and left the ninth tier.
They descended to the third tier and entered a hall marked “Exorcist Office,” bustling with activity, far livelier than the quiet ninth level.
Jianxian led the way, clearly well acquainted, exchanging greetings as he guided Cheng Xinzhan to a chamber and a long table.
He announced, “Director, this is young friend Xinzhan from Mingzhi Mountain, disciple of Lord Wen. The Mountain Lord sent me to bring him to you.”
The Exorcist Office Director, Daoist Miaojian, appeared older than Jianxian, also slender, but always smiling. Hearing this, he immediately said, “So the young master has arrived!”
Cheng Xinzhan protested modestly and handed over the note from Mountain Lord Zhao.
Miaojian read it, glanced at Cheng Xinzhan and Jianxian, his smile broadening, “Jianxian, I recall you haven’t taken a disciple yet. Perfect! You shall guide this young master in the thunder arts!”
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(End of chapter)